Gaming

The Biggest 2021 Video Game & Gaming Anniversaries List

The Biggest 2021 Video Game & Gaming Anniversaries List

A new year, a fresh set of gaming anniversaries to celebrate! 2020 was a challenging year and gaming certainly helped keep us connected and engaged. As we step into what will hopefully be a more normal year, there is a lot in store to celebrate! We’ve compiled a list of key dates for 2021 video game anniversaries – there are a lot!

2021 video game anniversaries – Game Highlights

2021 will be the milestone year for a lot of fan favourites! The Legend of Zelda and Metroid celebrate 35 years of heroics, joined by the Pokémon 25th anniversary! 2021 also sees the 30th anniversary of Street Fighter II, Sonic the Hedgehog, Lemmings and F-Zero too!

Other 2021 video game anniversaries include the 25th anniversary of Super Mario RPG and the Resident Evil series. Two very different games, released the same year! Other quarter century contenders include Quake, Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot.

2021 video game anniversaries – Console Highlights

It’s not just about the games, as the 2021 video game anniversaries also include timeless consoles! The 25th anniversary of the launch of the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Pocket, plus the 30th anniversary of the SNES in the US. More recent console releases include the 15th anniversaries of the Wii and the PlayStation 3, too!

 

January

09 Jan Electroplankton (DS) 15th
10 Jan Mega Man X Collection (Multi) 15th
17 Jan Ape Escape 3 (PS2) 15th
17 Jan Mass Effect 2 (Multi) 10th
18 Jan LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3) 10th
22 Jan Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam (3DS) 5th
25 Jan Guardian Heroes (Sat) 25th
25 Jan Dead Space 2 (Multi) 10th
28 Jan Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (Wii U) 5th
29 Jan Duke Nukem 3D (PC) 25th
31 Jan Mega Man X3 (SNES) 25th

February

The Legend of Zelda turns 35 this year!

01 Feb id Software founded 30th
06 Feb Street Fighter II (Arcade) 30th
07 Feb Tales of Legendia (PS2) 15th
07 Feb The Rub Rabbits! (DS) 15th
09 Feb Firewatch (Multi) 5th
09 Feb Bahamut Lagoon (SNES) 25th
14 Feb Lemmings (Multi) 30th
14 Feb State of Emergency 2 (PS2) 15th
19 Feb Fire Emblem Fates (3DS) 5th
21 Feb The Legend of Zelda (NES) 35th
21 Feb Famicom Disk System released in Japan 35th
21 Feb Sonic Riders (Multi) 15th
22 Feb Killzone 3 (PS3) 10th
26 Feb Stardew Valley (Multi) 5th
26 Feb Nintendo 3DS released in Japan 10th
27 Feb Pokémon Red and Green (GB) 25th
27 Feb Zelda: Oracle of Ages / Seasons (GB) 20th
28 Feb Black (Multi) 15th
28 Feb Dungeons & Dragons Online (PC) 15th
29 Feb Civilization II (PC) 25th
29 Feb Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri (PC) 25th
29 Feb Ripper (PC) 25th
February Defender (Arcade) 40th
Febuary Scramble (Arcade) 40th

March

The iconic Super Mario RPG celebrates its milestone

05 Mar Conker’s Bad Fur Day (N64) 20th
06 Mar Pokémon Black and White (DS) 10th
06 Mar Pokémon Trozei! (N64) 15th
08 Mar Dragon Age II (Multi) 10th
09 Mar Super Mario RPG (SNES) 25th
13 Mar Descent II (PC) 25th
15 Mar Pro Evolution Soccer (PS1) 20th
15 Mar Total War: Shogun 2 (PC) 10th
16 Mar Final Fantasy XII (PS2) 15th
18 Mar Pokkén Tournament (Wii U) 5th
20 Mar Metroid Prime Hunters (DS) 15th
20 Mar The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion 15th
21 Mar Kirby Super Star (SNES) 25th
21 Mar Serious Sam (Multi) 20th
21 Mar Super Mario Advance (GBA) 20th
21 Mar Game Boy Advanced released in Japan 20th
22 Mar Resident Evil (PS1) 25th
22 Mar Crysis 2 (Multi) 10th
25 Mar Nintendo 3DS released in Europe 10th
26 Mar Ubisoft founded (as Ubi Soft) 35th
26 Mar Pokémon Stadium 2 (N64) 20th
27 Mar Nintendo 3DS released in Europe 10th
28 Mar Oculus Rift Released 5th
29 Mar Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension (SNES) 25th
30 Mar Black & White (PC) 20th
March Neverwinter Nights (PC) 30th

April

The Japan only Mother 3

05 Apr Quantum Break (Multi) 5th
05 Apr HTC Vive Released 5th
06 Apr Pokemon Gold & Silver (GB) – Europe 20th
08 Apr Dr. Mario 64 (N64) 20th
10 Apr Odama (GC) 15th
11 Apr Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble (GBA) 20th
11 Apr Tomb Raider: Legend (Multi) 15th
12 Apr Dark Souls III (Multi) 5th
12 Apr The Simpsons Wrestling (PS1) 20th
13 Apr Project Justice (DC) 20th
14 Apr Mysterious Murasame Castle (Famicom) 25th
14 Apr Animal Crossing (GC) 20th
17 Apr Brain Age (DS) 15th
18 Apr Stephen’s Sausage Roll (PC) 5th
19 Apr Portal 2 (Multi) 10th
20 Apr Barbie Fashion Designer (PC) 25th
20 Apr Ōkami (PS2) 15th
20 Apr Mother 3 (GBA) 15th
22 Apr Star Fox Zero (Wii U) 5th
22 Apr Armadillo Run (PC) 15th
24 Apr Rampage: Total Destruction (Multi) 15th
24 Apr Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods (PC) 15th
25 Apr Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny (PS2) 15th
28 Apr Guild Wars: Factions 15th

May

The Dragon Quest series celebrates in 2021

01 May GameSpot website launched 25th
06 May The Shadow of Yserbius (PC) 30th
07 May Mario Party 3 (N64) 20th
10 May Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End 5th
14 May Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu (SNES) 25th
15 May New Super Mario Bros (DS) 15th
16 May Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC) 15th
16 May Terraria (Multi) 10th
17 May L.A. Noire (Multi) 10th
17 May The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (Multi) 10th
22 May Red Faction (PS2) 20th
23 May Monster Hunter Freedom (PSP) 15th
24 May Overwatch (Multi) 5th
24 May Metal Slug (Neo) 25th
27 May Dragon Quest (NES) 35th
31 May Final Doom (PC) 25th
May Bungie founded 30th

June

Speedy Hedgehog! Sonic turns 30 in 2021

01 Jun Battletoads (NES) 30th
01 Jun Half-Life 2: Episode One (PC) 15th
03 Jun Super Mario Bros: The Lost Levels (NES) 35th
06 Jun Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (PS2) 15th
07 Jun Infamous 2 (PS3) 10th
11 Jun Game Boy Advance released in the US 20th
11 Jun Nintendo DS Lite released in the US 15th
16 Jun Majesco founded 35th
22 Jun Quake (PC) 25th
22 Jun Game Boy Advance released in Europe 20th
23 Jun Sonic the Hedgehog (MD/Genesis) 30th
23 Jun Nintendo 64 released (Japan) 25th
23 Jun Super Mario 64 (N64) 25th
23 Jun Nintendo DS Lite released in Europe 15th
23 Jun Sonic Adventure 2 (DC) 20th
26 Jun Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D 10th
27 Jun Shining Wisdom (SAT) 25th
28 Jun Bethesda founded 35th
28 Jun Bomberman II (NES) 30th
29 Jun Inside (Multi) 5th
29 Jun Final Fantasy Chronicles (PS1) 20th
June Frogger (Arcade) 40th

July

Let's Go, Pokemon Go!

01 Jul Duke Nukem (PC) 30th
05 Jul NiGHTS into Dreams (SAT) 25th
06 Jul Pokémon GO (Mobile) 5th
09 Jul Donkey Kong (Arcade) 40th
12 Jul Castlevania II: Belmont’s Revenge (GB) 30th
19 Jul Final Fantasy IV (SNES) 30th
19 Jul Saturn Bomberman (SAT) 25th
19 Jul Star Ocean (SNES) 25th
19 Jul Final Fantasy X (PS2) 20th
19 Jul Limbo (PS3) 10th
21 Jul Game Boy Pocket released 25th
21 Jul Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA) 20th
29 Jul Pokémon Crystal 20th
31 Jul Playchoice-10 (Arcade) 25th
July Araknoid (Arcade) 35th

August

The Metroid series is celebrating a 2021 gaming anniversary

01 Aug Golden Sun (GBA) 20th
02 Aug Xbox One S released 5th
02 Aug Streets of Rage (MD/Genesis) 30th
06 Aug Metroid (NES) 35th
09 Aug No Man’s Sky (Multi) 5th
15 Aug Starflight (PC) 35th
19 Aug Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) 10th
21 Aug Wario Land 4 (GBA) 20th
23 Aug SNES released in the US 30th
23 Aug Super Mario World (SNES) 30th
23 Aug F-Zero (SNES) 30th
23 Aug Devil May Cry (PS2) 20th
23 Aug Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Multi) 10th
24 Aug Valve founded 25th
25 Aug Tekken 2 (PS1) 25th
31 Aug Die Hard Trilogy (Multi) 25th
31 Aug Tetris Attack (Multi) 25th

September

Persona 5 turns 5 in 2021

01 Sep NES Open Tournament Golf 30th
06 Sep Shenmue II (DC) 20th
06 Sep Resistance 3 (PS3) 10th
09 Sep Star Fox 64 3D (3DS) 10th
09 Sep Crash Bandicoot (PS1) 25th
10 Sep Advance Wars (GBA) 20th
11 Sep Driver: San Francisco (Multi) 10th
12 Sep Adventure Island (NES) 35th
14 Sep GameCube released in Japan 20th
14 Sep Luigi’s Mansion (GC) 20th
14 Sep Super Monkey Ball (GC) 20th
15 Sep Persona 5 (PS4) 5th
15 Sep PlayStation 4 Slim Released 5th
16 Sep Dragon Quest VII 5th
20 Sep Outrun (Arcade) 35th
20 Sep Gears of War 3 (360) 10th
22 Sep Dark Souls (Multi) 10th
24 Sep Ico (PS2) 20th
24 Sep Silent Hill 2 (PS2) 20th
26 Sep Castlevania (NES – FDS) 35th
26 Sep Pilotwings 64 (N64) 25th
27 Sep Forza Horizon 3 (Xbox One) 5th
28 Sep Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (DS) 15th
29 Sep Nintendo 64 Released (US) 25th
30 Sep Wipeout XL/2097 (PS1) 25th
30 Sep Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Multi) 25th
30 Sep Donkey Kong Land 2 (GB) 25th
September Galaga (Arcade) 40th
September Wizadry (Apple II) 40th
September Castle Wolfenstein (Apple II) 40th
September Bubble Bobble (Arcade) 35th
September SEGA Master System released in the US 35th
September Starblade (Arcade) 30th
September Road Rash (MD/Genesis) 30th
September Virtua Fighter 3 (Arcade) 25th

October

The Pikmin series turns 20

07 Oct Mafia III (Multi) 5th
07 Oct Paper Mario: Color Splash (Wii U) 5th
10 Oct Mortal Kombat Trilogy (Multi) 25th
11 Oct Forza Motorsport 4 (360) 10th
13 Oct PlayStation VR Released 5th
14 Oct Mario the Juggler (G&W) 30th
17 Oct Professor Layton and the Last Specter (DS) 10th
18 Oct Batman: Arkham City (Multi) 10th
22 Oct Grand Theft Auto III (PS2) 20th
24 Oct Kirby’s Return to Dream Land (Wii) 10th
24 Oct Virtua Tennis 2 (DC) 20th
25 Oct Battlefield 3 (Multi) 10th
26 Oct Pikmin (GC) 20th
28 Oct Titanfall 2 (Multi) 5th
29 Oct Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (Multi) 20th
30 Oct Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (PS2) 20th
30 Oct Civilization III (PC) 20th
31 Oct Pandemonium! (Multi) 25th
31 Oct Soul Reaver 2 (Multi) 20th

November

The classic Tomb Raider is also celebrating a 2021 gaming anniversary

01 Nov Wave Race 64 (N64) 25th
01 Nov Burnout (PS2) 20th
01 Nov Dragon Warrior VII 20th
01 Nov Sonic Generations (Multi) 10th
01 Nov Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (PS3) 10th
03 Nov Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) 10th
05 Nov SSX Tricky (Multi) 20th
06 Nov Elite Beat Agents (DS) 15th
07 Nov Guitar Hero II (Multi) 15th
07 Nov Gears of War (360) 15th
08 Nov Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Multi) 10th
09 Nov Project Gotham Racing (Xbox) 20th
10 Nov PlayStation 4 Pro Released 5th
10 Nov Medieval II: Total War (PC) 15th
11 Nov The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 10th
13 Nov Yoshi’s Island DS 15th
13 Nov Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PS2) 20th
15 Nov Watch Dogs 2 (Multi) 5th
15 Nov Tomb Raider (Multi) 25th
15 Nov Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox) 20th
15 Nov Xbox Released in the US 20th
15 Nov Saints Row: The Third 10th
15 Nov Rayman Origins 10th
17 Nov PS3 released in the US 15th
18 Nov Pokémon Sun & Moon 5th
18 Nov GameCube released in the US 20th
18 Nov Star Wars Rogue Squadron II (GC) 20th
18 Nov Zelda: Skyward Sword 10th
19 Nov Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC) 20th
19 Nov Wii released in the US 15th
19 Nov Wii Sports 15th
19 Nov Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) 15th
20 Nov Sonic 3D Blast (Multi) 25th
21 Nov Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) 30th
21 Nov Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) 20th
22 Nov Donkey Kong Country 3 (SNES) 25th
22 Nov Command & Conquer: Red Alert (PC) 25th
22 Nov Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (Multi) 15th
23 Nov Tamagotchi released in Japan 25th
25 Nov Killer Instinct Gold (N64) 25th
26 Nov Dead or Alive (Arcade) 25th
29 Nov Final Fantasy XV (Multi) 5th
30 Nov Fighting Vipers (Arcade) 25th
30 Nov Virtua Cop 2 (Arcade) 25th
November Another World (Amiga) 30th
November Metroid II: Return of Samus (GB) 30th
November Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge 30th

December

2021 gaming anniversaries - Mario Tennis

01 Dec SEGA Mega CD Released in Japan 30th
01 Dec Mario Kart 7 (3DS) 10th
03 Dec Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (PS2) 20th
04 Dec Super Castlevania IV (SNES) 30th
06 Dec Mega Man 4 (NES) 30th
08 Dec Wii released in Europe 15th
10 Dec SSX Tricky (Multi) 20th
12 Dec Max Payne (XBox) 20th
13 Dec Tecmo Super Bowl (NES) 30th
14 Dec Yoshi (NES) 30th
14 Dec Mario Kart 64 (N64) 25th
16 Dec Civilization (PC) 30th
19 Dec Kid Icarus (NES) 35th
December Jump Bug (Arcade) 40th
December Rolling Thunder (Arcade) 35th

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About J

J is TeeChu's founder and resident artist, a big Sonic and Zelda fan. Born and raised on hedgehogs and forest adventures!

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